Pump assemblage



Dec. 29, 1942. H. E. ADAMS PUMP ASSEMBLAGE Filed Aug. 2, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 29, 1942.

H. E. ADAMS" PUMP AS SEMBLAGE 'Filed Aug. 2, 1940 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 H l 371 v il @X16 a7 ff 7g??- 74 59,

Inverrr HHROLD EHDHMS,

Dec 29, 1942- H. E. ADAMS l 2,305,841

PUMP AS S EMBLAGE Fied Aug, 2, 1940 5 sheets-sheet s W K W L? N m ,n

n Hanau: Ao/IMG,

(-o" Ww. V Q

Dec. 29, 1942-. H. ADAMS 2,306,841

PUMP ASSEMBLAGE Filed Aug. 2, 1940 5 Sheets-'Sheet 4 Dec, 29, 1942. H. ADAMS PUMP AssEMBL-AGE Filed Aug. 2, 1940 Patented Dec. 29, 1942 PUMP ASSEMBLAGE Harold E. Adams, South Norwalk, Conn., or to Nash Engineering Company,

assign- South Norwalk, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut v Application August 2, 1940, Serial No. 349,954

(Cl. 10S-413) 11 Claims.

This inventionl relates to pumps and more particularly to a pump assemblage especially adapted to handle both liquids and gases.

The particular embodiment of the invention herein described, revolves about certain improvements to gasoline dispenser pumps for use in pumping gasoline from an underground storage tank through appropriate meter equipment and a flexible discharge nozzle to automobiles. Because of the highly volatile nature of the gasoline being pumped and because of inward air leakage in the suction line caused by the necessary suction lift, it has been most common to apply positive rotary displacement pumps suitable to withdraw the air and vapors from the suction line, so that the gasoline may in turn be lifted .and delivered.

Because ofA the expense of these positive rotary displacement pumps, the necessity for belt -or gear drive, the more expensive motor required to take care of the high starting torque, and furthermore, because of other complications involved in the by-passing and air separating arrangements typical of such units, attempts have been made to apply a centrifugal pump with suitable priming means instead of the positive rotary displacement pump, and its accessories.

Many of these centrifugal pump units have met with uncertain success because of the sensitiveness of the centrifugal pump to the presence of air or vapor in the liquid being pumped, together with inadequate air and vapor removal capacity coupled with insufficient separation of these gases and vapors from the liquid being pumped. It is to this latter class of equipment that this invention specifically relates but there are principles involved in the construction of the present invention that may be applied to other pumping problems, such as sump pumps, return line vacuum heating pumps, etc., and it is not intended to limit the invention to this narrow field of gasoline dispensing pumps.

Specically the pump unit employed is a combination centrifugal and liquid ring or uid piston unit having a common impeller, one side of the unit being effective to handle liquids and the other side being in the nature of a vacuum pump effective to keep the centrifugal side primed.

Among the objects of the invention is an arrangement of the casings for combination impeller-rotor p-ump mechanisms disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 349,953 led August 2, 1940, in a compact unit so as to fur- "to provide nish the maximumsealingcapacity for the pump elements. y v

Another object is to provide various chambers in the liquid reservoir of the pump effective to thoroughly de-aerate the liquid received by the pump, and transfer such liquid to a point of delivery in de-aerated condition.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pump construction that insures the complete priming of the pump before any-liquid may be discharged at the delivery point.

Still another object contemplates a `construction that acts as an unloader for the vacuum pump to prevent liquid in the pump reservoir from being carried over into the suction line of the vacuum pump.

It is also an important object of the invention an air and liquid seal for the drive shaft bearing that will minimize leakage into vital parts of the pump. f

With the foregoing and other objectsin view, the invention consists of a novel combination, construction, and arrangement of parts, as will appear more clearly inthe following specification considered in connection -with the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understood that variations and modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention in the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a topplan View of a liquid dispensing device embodying the principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof, partly in section taken substantially on lines A-A and B-B of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view thereof Fig. 4 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation thereof, with the valve shell broken away and in section taken substantially on the plane of line 5-5 in Fig. l; f Fig. 6 is a side elevation thereof, with a part broken'away and in section taken substantially on the plane of line 6 6, and with the valve shell at the lower right hand portion of the iigure, broken away substantially on the plane of line 6B, both of which section lines are clisclosed on Fig. 1 of the drawings;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section thereof, taken` substantially on the plane of line 'l-'l of Fig. 2; Fig. 8 is a horizontal section thereof, taken substantially on the plane of line 8-8 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View through the float chamber of the reservoir showing a modification of the vent valve; and

Fig. is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the housing showing modifications of the combination ro-tor-impeller, and also the seal for the bearing on the drive shaft.

The main features of the invention include a pump body, or housing H, enclosing an irregularly shaped liquid reservoir R from communication with the atmosphere except for venting valves as will presently appear. So as to obtain the maximum eciency and insure against atmospheric leakage into the pump casing C, this casing C is positioned almost entirely in the reservoir in order that the vital parts of the pump members may be submerged in the liquid. A spring loaded valve S, which controls the discharge of liquid from the liquid pump, is influencedby a pilot valve P which will insure the discharge of the liquid at the dispensing .nozzle (not shown) only under conditions that will not impair the eiciency of the pump.

The housing H is preferably made of an upright bowl l5 having a flange I6 around the edge of its open end, bolted as at H, to a fiange i8 on the bottom of a hollow head. This head, except for the strainer opening IS and the eye or inlet port of the centrifugal liquid pump, hereinafter described, is closed by a bottom wall 26 which, together with the pump casing C, divides the reservoir R horizontally, in cases where the installation permits the pumping members to operate on a vertical axis. The side wall of the head is substantially straight, as at 2|, around a part of its perimeter, and the straight part merges with the horizontal portion 22 of the motor end shield which forms the remainder of the side wall. Both the straight and the irregularly inclined parts of the side wall merge at the top in a round hollow rim 23 surrounding the open throat 24 that form-s the upper portion of the reservoir R.

Part Way up on the outside of the irregular wall 22, is an annularv portion 25 of the motor end shield to which the prime mover is bolted at 2t, and in this instance, thev prime mover is an electric motor M. In the face of the flange is a stepped collar 21 which supports a ball bearing 28a for a part of the armature shaft 29 from the is a circular groove 28h which receives a mechanical resilient ring seal 28 that prevents leakage, and which may be made of rubber. A bearing bonnet 28e fits over the ball bearing 28a and the collar 2l and rests on the upper face of flange 25. Between the collar 27 and the wall 22 is an oil chamber 3S) to receive the oil that forms a liquid seal for shaft 29, as will appear later. Shaft 2S extends through the chamber in a vertical direction, then through an opening 3! in wall 22, and terminates in the pump compartmentE of pump casing C, where it is keyed to the conical hub 32 of the combination impeller-rotor I to which it is locked by means of the nut 33.

Between the hub 32 and the confronting face of wall 22 is a mechanical seal 34a. This seal consists of a cap member 35 fixed to and rotatablel with the shaft 23 by a flexible ring bushing 36 which fits snugly inside the cap and grips it firmly. The ring 36 is preferably made of rubber-like substance. The ring bushing 36 also grips the shaft snugly. Around the opening in the crown of the cap 35 is a raised shoulder with a smooth face which bears against a corresponding smooth stationary face 3l around the bearing opening 3l in wall 22. The cap is urged into bearing or wiping engagement with face 31 to take up wear by means of a spring 38 encircling the shaft 29, one end of which bears against the hub 32 and the other end against a washer 39 that fits against the bushing 36.

As the description proceeds, it will be obvious that the pump casing C, together with the bottom wall 20 of the head of the body, or housing H, separates one portion of the reservoir R from another. In units having the pump members operating on a vertical axis, these aforesaid parts separate the upper portions of the reservoir R from the lower portions, so that when the dispensing device of. the present invention is initially primed and operating thereafter, all of the elements of the pumps that might be influenced by the leakage of gas are submerged in liquid. Since both a gas or vacuum pump and a liquid pump are utilized in the present invention, there is created in the. pump casing C and housing H, a large enough pump compartment E to accommodate both pumps, and permit arrangement of the inlet and outlet ports for each pump to conform to the arrangement of pump chambers for the individual pumps.

The invention contemplates a novel manner of utilizing a combination impeller-rotor I, so as to divide the pump compartment E into pump chambers in a manner to seal the chambers one from the other. This feature is described and claimed in my co-pending application, above mentioned, and only so much of this structure will be recited herein, as is necessary to a clear understanding of the instant invention.

With the foregoing in mind the volute part t3 of the pump casing C is preferably made integral with the bottom Wall 2%), although obvicusiy this volute part may be made as a separate piece and attached to the bottom wall 23. The volute part 40 of casing C, has bolted to it, the bottom wall fil of the casing, and this bottom wall has a peripheral rim 42, which may be bolted at 43, or otherwise secured to the periphery ot' the volute part 42. Formed on the center of the bottom wall is an upstanding hollow spindle or hub t4 around which the combination impeller-rotor rotates, which in the form of rotor illustrated in connection with this invention using ports, is cut away to form the inlet port 45, and the outlet port 43. For a more detailed description of examples of Various port arrangements, which may be used, reference may be made to the patents to Nash, No. 953,222, and Jennings 1,718,294. It is also feasible to utilize side ports, if desired.

The bottom wall di is cut away substantially in a sector, and around this cut away part is a depending sector-shaped ridge 4T. Between the radial parts of the ridge is a radial partition ridge Illa which divides the opening into an inlet passage i3 and the outlet passage 49, and the outlet passage communicates with an upwardly extending opening 53 having a valve seat for the spring pressed check valve 5i. The opening 56 communicates past the valve 5|, with a lateral cavity 52 in the volute part 49 that has a threaded opening 53 to which the conductor pipe 54 (Fig. 5) is connected at one end, while the other end of the pipe 54 is connected to a threaded nipple 53 on the bottomv Wall 56 of the'stripping tank T. The radial parts of the sector-shaped ridge al, and the partition ridge 41a merge at the apex in the spindle or hub 4t. Overthe ridges 4T and ala, and the spindle M is bolted, as at 51, the

port plate or hood 58, which closes the inlet and outlet passages 48 and 49 respectively, and with the wall 4|, and volute wall 40, entirely separates the upper from the lower portion of the reser# voir R.

In the center of the volute part 49 is the eye or inlet port 59, which enters the pump compartment E at the top, and in the margin of the volute part is the volute passage 69. The combination impeller-rotor I is disposed in the pump compartment E. The member I may be made in many forms but all of them are made with a disc 6| that merges with the hub 32. In both of the forms shown in Figures 2 and 10, on the upper face of the disc are mounted which constitute a centrifugal liquid pump, while on the lower face are mounted the pump elements that perform the function of a liquid ring gas pump or compressor. It being the purpose of the present invention to create a self-priming liquid pump, the liquid ring gas pump is utilized for creating a vacuum, and the centrifugal pump for pumping the liquid from the reservoir R. In both of the forms of the invention shown in Figures 2 and 10, the disc 6| divides the pump compartment E into the upper centrifugal pump chamber Gla and the lower liquid ring pump chamber SIb, the disc forming a rotating partition wall for said respective chambers, and at the same time serving to carry the pump elements for the centrifugal pump and the liquid ring pump.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 2, impeller blades 62 are formed on the top face of disc 9| and have a close clearance with the inner face of the volute part 49, as at 69. The blades form the impeller passages 94 between the 'face of the disc 6| and the confronting face at 63, whereby liquid is drawn from the reservoir R through port 59 and discharged into volute passage 60 by centrifugal force well known in centrifugal pumps.

The vanes 65 of the liquid ringpump are located on the lower face of disc and have a shroud or cover plate 69, riveted at 91, to their free edges thereby forming the liquid ring buckets or displacement chambers 98, between the vanes and between the bottom face of the disc and the shroud. The inner and outer peripheries of the shroud or cover plate 96 are disposed against mating surfaces of the recess in the inner face of bottom wall 4|, with a. close clearance. As is Well known in the art from the teachings of the U. S. patents to Nash 953,222, March 29,

1910; 1,091,529, March 31, 1914; and Jennings i 1,297,692, March 18, 1929, a gas is eiciently pumped by the action of a liquid in the outer portion of the buckets 68, when the liquid moves, by centrifugal force, in and out of the buckets against the lobe 69 and the lands 'i9 (Fig. '7). respectively. A depending lip 1| is formed on the edge of the disc 6|, and this lip ii has close clearance with the confronting peripheral wall adjacent volute passage 69 and forms a seal between the pump chambers 6|a and Glb. Another seal 'ila is made between the wall 4i and a depending annular ring on disc 6|.

Disregarding the modified form of the bearing sealin Fig. which will be considered later, it

will be seen, in Fig. l0, that the disc 9| similar to disc 6|, has a close clearance, at li', with the confronting part of the volute wall 49 adjacent the volute passage 60 to form a liquid seal between the centrifugal pump chamber la and the liquid ring pump chamber SIb. In this iigpump elements ure the impeller blades 62' have a .shroud 12 riveted to their edges like the shroud 56 is riveted to blades 65 in Fig. 2 and this shroudf'i has an upstanding neck 'i3 near the center, the opening of which registers with the inlet port 59. In this construction a renewable, ymechanical seal ring '54, is seated in a step l5 about the inlet port 59', and forms a snug fit with the outside of the neck 13. In the structure shown in Fig. 10, the rotor blades 95 have no shroud covering them, but instead have a close clearance 16 with the adjacent wall 4l of the pump casing C. Another seal 'il is formed between the lower surface of disc 9i and the bottom casing wall 4|', which when considered with seal 1|' forms a right angled seal. In all other respects, save for the modified bearing seal, the parts are similar to the structure shown in Fig. 2. The purpose of the seals at 1| and lla in Fig. 2, and seals l1, 1i' in Fig. 10, is to permit some liquid from the volute passage 99 and 99 to flow into the gas pump lobes 99 and 99', respectively, all of which promotes efiiciency in operation.

The iiow from the volute passage 99 or 99 to the lobe 9S and `r69 respectively, is provided by making the centrifugal impeller of higher pressure capacity, in this case, than the liquid ring pump rotor, but the present invention isV not to be restricted in the relationship of thesetwo capacities, as the control of the interchange of liquid being pumped by the centrifugal impeller and the liquid seal for the liquid ring pump rotor can be obtained through other appropriate means as hereinafter explained. A

The reservoir R further includes adrum 'i8 having a, round upstanding side wall ia (Fig. 6) the edges of which are clamped in grooves between the heads 19, 8i).v Long bolts 8i clamp the heads 19, together. The drum 'i9 forms the float chamber 82 of the reservoir R. The bottom head 19 is bolted to rim 23, as at 83, and is eccentric with respect to the rim having an overhanging portion that carries the pilot valve P.

A portion of the head "I9 has an opening 84 cornmunicating with the reservoir R and in this opening is a baille 95 in the form of a grid or grille similar to that shown in my U. S. Patent 1,929,- 232. A float 86 slides upon an upright rod 8l in chamber 82, and the rod is supported at one end in a thimble 88 on head 89 and at the other end in a thimble B9 on bottom wall 19. At the top, the chamber 82 is vented through the vent valve V, which consists of a valve seat 99 formed in the vent passage 9| of the sleeve 92 made integral with the top head 99. The sleeve has a pipe connection 93 with the passage 9| which pipe opens into the atmosphere through the union 94 and pipe95. A lever 99 is pivoted at 91 to rock on the inner end of the sleeve 92, and has wiping engagement with the projecting end of the valve pin 98 which slides in the valve passage 9|.` The inner end of the valve pin 98 bears on the seat and closes the passage 9|, and in the position shown in Fig. 6, the valve is closed.

A fork on the other end of the lever 99. straddles the -float rod 8'! in the path of the float 99 and the lever is held in valve closing position by a spring 99 encircling the rod 8l. One end of the spring is xed in the thimble 99, and its other end is xedto a washer |99 which slides on the rod and bears againstV the lever 99. Another type of vent valve V is shown in Fig. 9, which is of a ktype similar to those used in pneumatic tires. In this type, a bored bushing |9| is inserted in the passage 9| in the sleeve S on the head 8%', Vand the bushing has a passage |62 throughout its length. The passage is threaded at |93 at one end, and the barrel m4 is screwed into the threadedpart. At the opposite end, the passage Eil? has a shoulder |95 in which an open cage member E35 is seated. A valve stem E31 extends through a bore Hla in the barrel |64, and through the passage |02, and is slidably received in the cage Mit. A disc valve w3 is xed to the stern |31, and closes the bore in the barrel, being normally urged to that position by a spring |03 encircling the stem |31. One end of the spring bears against the cage it, and the other against the disc valve |93. t is to be understood that the cage |96 is open so as to permit air to be vented through the passage |32. Depending from the head 86 of the tank 13' are a pair of spaced ears H0, between which is pivoted at the inner end of the lever 36', said lever having a flange H2. The flange i |2 wipes against the projecting end of valve stem |31, and the forked end of the lever 36 straddles the oat rod 81. In the position shown in Fig. 9, the valve and other parts including the float 85 are in the normal closed position. Further movement upward by the float 85' 0n the float rod 81 will press valve stem |61 inwardly, unseat the valve Hi8, and vent the float chamber 82 to the atmosphere.

Opening from a point ||3a near the top of the float chamber B2, is a conductor pipe H3, which extends through the reservoir R, and terminates in an open end in the inlet passage 48 of the liquid ring vacuum pump. It will thus be seen that there is a direct connection, from a po-int above the liquid level limit where chamber 82 is vented to the atmosphere, to the inlet port 45 of the liquid ring gas pump. Extending from one part of the side wall 22 to the other part 2|, is a baille wall ||4, preferably made integral with the head walls. The wall ||4 extends from the bottom wall 20, of the head to a point near the top. This wall ||4 divides the reservoir R into a de-aerating or separating chamber H5, and a -f liquid supply or suction chamber H6, the space above wall ||4 permitting the liquid t0 pass from one to the other. The opening 24 in the top of the head casting, and the baffled opening 84 to the chamber 82 are oiset with respect to the separating chamber H5. The bowl I5 forms the settling chamber ||1 for the reservoir R., and communicates with the separating chamber H5 through a cylindrical screen H8, which is wedged in a cap H9 on the bowl I3. the screen |8 extends through the opening I9. A lower level of bowl l5 is connected by the pipe |2|la to an underground storage tank, not shown, and in the pipe is the usual foot valve to retain the head of liquid in the pipe, once the pump has been primed. It will then be seen that the reservoir R includes the settling chamber ||1, the separating chamber H5, the supply chamber H6, and the chamber 82, the latter being referred to as the suction control chamber, or float chamber and is disposed above the former chambers, all of which are in communication.

The purpose of the stripping tank T is to form a chamber |26 to receive the air exhausted by the liquid ring gas pump, strip the heavy vapors and liquid from the air exhausted from the pump, allow the air to escape into the atmosphere, and return, or recirculate the liquid so stripped to the reservoir R. The tank T has a tubular side wall |22, the edges of which are clamped between two The upper end of heads |2|, 53 by the long-bolts |23. In the chamber |20, a float |24 slides on a rod |25 secured at the one end in a nipple |26 on the bottom wall 5t. A valve seat |21 is formed in the bottom wall 5B, and a pipe |28 connects the passage in the valve seat with the liquid suction or supply chamber H6. The discharge pipe |29 is connected with a port |30 in the top wall |2| of the chamber |23, and this pipe connects with the pipe which opens to the atmosphere. A re repellant gauze may be placed in the pipe |29, or pipe 95 to reduce nre hazards. A float controlled valve |3| is pivoted on an intermediate portion, at |32, of a lever |33. One end of the lever is Divoted at |3411, to a lug |34 on bottom wall 53, and the other end is forked at |35. The ends of the fork t in a collar |33v on the iloat |24 and as the iloat rises with the volume of stripped liquid in the chamber |20, the valve |3| will open from the closed position shown in Fig. 2, and permit the liquid in chamber |20 to be returned to the suction chamber 6.

The discharge control Valve S consists of a dome or shell |31, iixed to a shelf |33 on the rim of the settling bowl I5. One side of the shell is formed with a hollow, laterally projecting neck |39 which merges with the volute part 40 of the pump casing H, and contains a passage |40 that registers with the volute passage 6B. As shown, the valve shell |31 and neck |39, are made integral with the volute part lil of the casing, but other Ways of constructing these parts in separate pieces may be devised. The passage |4 also communicates with the valve chamber |4|. In the valve chamber i4| is an open top cylinder |42 formed with a bore |43. Directly over the bore of the cylinder, the shell is formed with a valve seat |44, which communicates with the discharge pipe m5 that leads to the dispensing nozzle, not shown, where liquid is delivered as desired. The nozzle carries an electric switch, as is conventional, which controls the operation of the motor M.

The valve S is illustrated as of a piston type (although obviously other forms of differential pressure valves, e. g., diaphragm or bellows, might be used) and has an enlarged skirt |46 mounted for sliding movement in the bore |43, with a predetermined clearance, as shown at |41, which provides for a certain amount of flow of liquid around the valve. The skirt |43 of the valve merges with a reduced part |48 that is larger in diameter than the seat |44 against which the reduced part seats. The reduced part |48 of the valve is under the direct iniiuence of liquid under pressure in the valve chamber |4|, which latter is in communication with the volute passage 6%3 of the centrifugal pump. There is an opening |49 in the shelf |33 which communicates with the bore |43, and a pipe It threaded in this opening is connected to the pilot valve P. A helical spring I'i has one end seated against the shelf |38 in the bore |43, and its outer end bears against a shoulder on the inside of the skirt |46,

normally urging the valve to closed position, as

shown in Figures 5 and 6.

The pilot valve P is formed oi a valve seat |52 secured in a small sleeve 53 that is made integral with, and extends downwardly from the overhanging part of the head 1) of su-ction control tank la. The pipe i5@ that communicates with the under side of the control valve S has a communication with the suction control chamber 82 'through the passage ia in the valve seat |52, and is controlled by a valve pin |54. The

outer end of the valve pin has wiping engagement with an intermediate part |55 of the lever |56. One end of the lever |56 is pivoted at |51 to the head 19, while the other end thereof straddles the oat rod 81 in the path of float 86. A spring |58 encircles the lower end of the float rod 81, the lower end bearing on the nipple 89, and the upper end bearing against the end oi valve operating lever |56, thereby normally permitting the valve P to assume open position. (This is due to the fact that valve pin |54 is not connected to lever |56.) The discharge from the liquid pump is divided into two branches by the valve seat |44. The one branch is the pipe |45. and the other is the bore |43 of cylinder |42, which by means of pipe |50 communicates through valve P with reservoir R by way of the suction control chamber 82. y

In Fig. 10, I have shown an alternative construction for sealing the upper bearing 28a from the oil sealing chamber 38. In this form of the invention, the ball bearing 28a. and its mechanical seal ring 28' are formed alike in all respects, as the bearing 28a and ring 28 in Fig. 2. However, so as to prevent leakage into the ball bearing from oil seal chamber 38', like chamber 30 in Fig. 2, an additional seal is provided in the form of a stationary metal cap |60, in which is seated a flexible rubber-like ringl |6l. The ring grips and wipes against the shaft 29 and is held stationary in the cap |66.l The cap seats in a shoulder |62 in the wall 22', in chamber 36', and is held in position by a resilient wire split ring |63 that seats in a circular groove |64 in the shoulder wall. In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 10, the cap |66 and the resilient ring |6| are disposed between the bearing 28a and chamber 36 to furnish a seal and an additional closure for chamber 36. The cap seals the upper portion of the seal chamber 36 to prevent oil and gasoline fromv leaking into the ball bearing 28a. The oil sealing uid in chamber 30 will be retained along the level of the'lip of filling neck |65. Should any leakage occur, a relief passage |66 may be formed in the wall 22 leading from the upstanding collar 21.

It is here pointed out, that wherever any liquid seal rings are suggested as being made of rubber, it is intended to include all synthetic rubbers such as chloroprene and neoprene, as well as the natural rubbers.

From the foregoing description, the operation of the invention will readily be apparent, and while the description refers to use with a gasoline dispensing apparatus, this is intended as exemplary. n

Liquid such as gasoline is drawn into the strainer and settling chamber ||1, through the suction pipe |26a, passes through the strainer H8 into the air and vapor separating chamber H5, passing over the baffle |l4, down into the suction chamber ||6 and thence to the eye or inlet connection 59 or 59 of the impeller of the centrifugal pump. The air and vapors released at the top of the separating chamber ||5, pass through openings 84 between baiiles 85 and are trapped in the float control chamber 62, where they are drawn from the top point ||3a of this chamber by pipe ||3, which leads down to the priming pump suction or inlet passage 48.` The gasoline which is drawn into the impeller inlet connection at 59 or 59 passes through the impeller passages 64 and is collected in the centrifugal pump passage 60, where it is lead to the gasoline discharge passage |40. From' here it is delivered through pilot controlled discharge valve S, thence through the pipe |45 to the conventional gasoline meter, etc. to the gasoline dispensing nozzle.

Picking up the course of the air and vapor which are drawn in at the vacuum pump suction connection I3, these gases are drawn in through the inlet port 45 of the liquidring type vacuum pump or compressor. The compressed air and vapors are discharged through the outlet port 46, through the discharge passage 56 and check valve 5|, to the discharge connection 53. From here these gases are lead through pipe 54 to connection 55 in the stripping or separating tank T Where the air and vapors are stripped or Separated from the excess liquid that is delivered with them.

The air is discharged through the top connection |36, through a suitable re repellant gauze, to atmosphere through pipe |26 and 95. The separated liquid collected in the tank T is discharged by means of a float valve |34, through the discharge pipe |28 to the gasoline inlet chamber ||6.

The combination liquid pump andgas eX- hauster that is employed in this unit is entirely novel and it is covered in my co-pending application heretofore indicated, wherein the specinc features of this important element of the instant invention is claimed.

As is characteristic with the conventional centrifugal water pump, the discharge pressure built up by it in the discharge passages is liable to be quite a variable, depending upon the rate of delivery. There are times, therefore, when the pressure in the volute passage 66 will drop to an absolute value lower than the pressure created in the lobe 69 by the vacuum pump rotor. Under such conditions there would be a reversal of iiow of the liquid from the lobe 66 through the clearance spaces 'Ha and 1|, or 11 and 1| in the modified form of the invention, and into the volute passage 68 of the centrifugal liquid pump. There is the possibility that this pressure difference would be of such order as to seriously impair the efciency and operation of the vacuum pump because of the loss of its seal in this manner.

There are several ways of providing for the maintenance of suitable pressure within lthe volute passage 66. One method is shown and described in this application as an example, but it is not intended that the invention is to be limited to this specic type of control. In the figures shown, there is employed a pilot controlled discharge valve S inthe discharge of the centrifugal pump, the pilot valve being indicated in Figure 6 as P and controlled through operating lever E56, the spring |58 and the float 66.

It will be noted from Fig. 6 that the discharge valve seat |44 of the valve S is of smaller diameter than the reduced part |48. With the volute discharge pressure exerted to the valve S, this Valve will remain closed as long as the pressure on the under side of the skirt portion |46 is approximately the same as that of the volute vpassage 66, provided of course that the pressure in the finalV discharge pipe |45 is lower-than that in the volute passage 66. Provision is made for'this equalization of iiuid pressurebetween the volute passage 66 and the under side of the piston valve S by holding the pilot P closed. With this pilot valve closed, the pressure on the under side of the piston valve S andthe interconnecting pipel i5@ is effectively equalized by the leakage from the volute passage 6@ of liquid Varound the clearance. space Ml between the skirt portion H36 and its cylindrical housing E62.

The weight of the float 86 bea-ring on arm 56 holds the pilot valve P closed and thus maintains iuid pressure under the skirt part M6, along with upward pressure oi spring it to retain the valve S tight on its seat teli.

As soon as the centrifugal pump is primed and the liquid level rises in 'the suction controller tank 822 to the point where it will raise the float 86, the pilot valve P will open from the force of the spring les and the pressure on the under side of its seat 52 that is communicated to it through the equalizing pipe |56.

As soon therefore as this pilot Valve P opens, it will release liquid from the under side of the valve S to the suction side ci the centrifugal pump inasmuch as the chamber S2 is directly on the suction side. The pilot valve P is of sufiicient area to allow the liquid to escape from the under side cf valve S at a faster rate than it can leak by the clearance space Ml around the valve. side of the valve S in this manner will result in a much lower pressure on the under side of valve S than exists on its upper side in communication with the volute passage The pressure on the under side of the valve S, due to its connection with the suction side of the centrifugal pump, is furthermore lower than the pressure above the seat ii. The result will be the immediate downward movement of valve S and resultant opening of the valve to place'f the volute passage 66 directly in communication with the discharge pipe M5.

It will be seen that this valve S will remain This release of liquid from the under open as long as the pilot valve E is open while v the centrifugal pump is in operation. There will (1) It keeps the eye of the centrifugal pump 3 covered and thus allows it to maintain its normal operating pressure in the volute passage 60, 66 to provide the proper sealing between the clearance spaces 'Ha and li, or ll' and 'il'.

(2) It insures against the uncovering of the eye 59 of the centrifugal pump and the pumping of air by the centrifugal pump.

(3) It maintains a quantity of sealing liquid for recirculating purposes during the normal operation of the pump.

It will also be noted that the spring i5! is so proportioned that it will normally hold the valve S closed on its seat Mill. The tension of this spring is such that it can be readily overcome bythe differential pressures between the volute passage 60 and the suction chamber l t6 referred to but will, while the pump is not running, hold the valve S closed to maintain the discharge line |45 full of liquid.

A further provision of this spring iti is to act as a relief Valve in conjunction with valve S should the pressure in line i155 become excessive during a shut-down period by the expansion of the liquid trapped therein, as might be causedon a hot day. Such expansion might be injurious to the delicate meter mechanism and this springloaded Valve S will automatically relieve this system of excessive expansion pressures.

It will be noted that when the liquid impeller of the centrifugal pump is delivering liquid through the discharge valve S, there will be at these times a pressure in the volute 60 normally in excess of the pressure in the lobe 69 or 69', and during the period of operation there will be a ow of some of this liquid through the clearance spaces 'Ila and 'H or 'l1 and 1I', into the lobe 69 or 69. This interchange of liquid serves a useful purpose besides maintaining the seal between the pump casing C and the impeller, as it is used-by the Vacuum pump rotor to fill up its clearance spaces and also to serve as a mea-ns of cooling to carry away the heat of the work of compression done by the vacuum pump. rThis additional sealing liquid is discharged by the vacuum pump with the compressed air or gas through o-utlet port 46, the discharge passages 49, 5U and 53, and the pipe-54.

Further provision is made for auxiliary sealing liquid for the filling up of the clearance spaces and for cooling purposes in the vacuum pump. There will be an auxiliary iiow of sealing liquid from the suction chamber` HS of the liquid pump through a controllable or fixed orifice |61 (Fig. 10), through wall 26 to the inlet passage 48 of the vacuum pump, from where it ows into the vacuum pump inlet port 45 and nally through the discharge port 46 and pipe 54,

The now of gasoline or liquid through the dispensing unit and the means of separating the gases from the primary fluid being pumped, as well as from the gas and seal-ing liquid mixture discharged from the vacuum pump will be understood in the foregoing description. These conditions occur during the normal operation of the unit after once getting under way with full delivery of the liquid itself. The provisions that have been made to obtain the so-called selfpriming feature of the pump will nowbe described.

It is wellf known inthe art thatI centrifugal liquid pumps of the type here used are not selfpriming. In other words, they will not draw liquids from a lower level unless all' of the intervening air or gas has been withdrawn from the suction lineY I2Ua and the impeller and casing of the centrifugal pump itself completelyfilled with the liquid. It is therefore necessary to providean exhauster to withdraw the air and gases from the suction line and the pump casing before pumping by the centrifugal can begin. The vacuum pump that is provided in this structure in a novel combination with the liquid impeller itself is of course the means for evacuating the suction line and the pumpl casing to provide for the priming of theliquid impeller.A

The vacuum pump itself, being a liquid ring pump, must be providedl with an initial charge of sealingA liquid and means for maintaining this sealing liquidduring the time it is exhausting the suction line of the liquid pump.

In the present structure, provision is made to retain the sealing liquid by placing it in a liquid tight pocket consisting of a suction chamber H6 and the impeller casing Ela, such that the liquid c an not be lost from this casing by gravity flows into the suction line 126e, nor can it be discharged` completely by the impeller by the action of the float controlled discharge valve S.A The, liquid ring, pump itself is placedl at the lowest point of this pocket soV as toV insure the complete beneiit by this submergence in the. body of liquid stored in this pocket.

In practice, the sealing liquid is poured into the suction control chamber S2 through the initial lling plug 58 in the wall Sii, until it completely fills the vacuum pump chamber Sib, the centrifugal pump chamber Sia and the supply or suction chamber lili, to the level of the baille H4. Any further filling of the chambers would result in the waste of this liquid over the baiile H4, down into the separating chamber H5 and eventually through the suction pipe |2611.

This priming liquid involves only a small quantity ranging from 2 to 4 quarts, or possibly greater, depending upon the size of the pump structure. It is thus seen that before starting up the unit, all of the pumping elements and the pump suction chamber are completely submerged in liquid.

Upon starting, the centrifugal pump can not pump the initial ll out as the discharge valve S will be closed. It will therefore retain liquid under pressure in the volute Sii, which will continue to serve as a sealing means against the loss of seal in the lobe 59 during the remainder of the priming operation. The vacuum pump will therefore immediately start evacuating air and gas from the suction line I2Ela, through the inlet passage 138, pipe H3, suction control chamber 82, separating chamber H5, and settling chamber H1.

Provision for the necessary make-up seal is made, as before mentioned, through the orii'ice |61, Fig. 10, by the retention of the liquid in the supply or suction chamber below the approximate level It. The liquid that is fed to the vacuum pump through orice ll from this reserve seal, also by the centrifugal impeller through clearance spaces lla and 'll or ll and li', after passing through the vacuum pump and its discharge passages 49 and 52, is eventually delivered to the stripping tank T where the liquid is stripped from the mixture and this same liquid is then returned, by means of the pressure diierential existing through the iioat valve i3d to the same reserve body of liquid in the supply or suction chamber H by means of the pipe H23. It is thus seen that this body of liquid is maintained at approximately the level E69 during the continued priming opera-tion of the Vacuum pump. As the vacuum pump continues to withdraw air and gases from the suction line I2tla, it causes the raising of the liquid in the suction line until it eventually iills the settling chamber H1 and is then drawn up into the separating chamber l i5, where it flows over the baie lill lling the supply or suction chamber H6 and finally rises to a point in the suction control chamber 82 where it causes float 86 to rise and open pilot valve P, thus allowing the discharge valve S to open. The centrifugal impeller then can resume operation to pump the liquid to its delivery point.

The vacuum pump continues to withdraw air and gas above the liquid and that separated from it through the pipe HS at the point lISa in the suction control chamber 82. This action causes the further rise of the liquid level in the suction control chamber 82. As this level continues torise, due to the evacuation of the gases above it by the vacuum pump, it causes the further rising of the float Se. As this float rises, it engages the vent valve operating arm 95, which through appropriate linkage, as shown and described, operates to open vent valve V. The opening of the vent valve V admits air from at-r mosphere through the atmospheric connection 95 into the suction control chamber 82 in an amount sufficient to equal the capacity of the vacuum pump at this particular operating condition. This action stops the further rise of liquid in the chamber 82 and a balance is reached which holds the level of the liquid up into chamber 82 approximately at the level l. Any unusual amount of entraned air coming up with the liquid from the suction connection will cause a temporary lowering of the level II and consequent closing of the vent valve V. This action will put the full capacity of thevacuum pump to handling this excess air and it will result in the pulling up of the liquid to approximately the level lli), where again the vent valve V through the action of the float will bleed in just sufficient air y to cause a balanced condition.

The action above described acts as an unloader for the Vacuum pump in that it prevents the carrying over of gasoline into the vacuum pump suction. Such carry-over would materially increase the power requirements. As far as is known, no other gasoline pump has this unloading provision.

Of course, as soon as the above balanced condition is reached, the pump is fully primed and is in normal operating condition. In the usual gasoline pump installations, a check valve or a foot valve is placed in the suction line l23a so that after the line is rst primed it will not have to be primed on each sub-sequent operation of the pump. Any subsequent inward leakage of air into this suction line |20a. or any flashing of the volatile vapors caused by elevated temperatures due to exposure to heat from the sun,

etc. would be detrimental not only to the pumping action of the centrifugal pump, which is peculiarly sensitive to the presence of gases and vapors, but would also result in inaccuracies in the measurement of the gasoline being delivered through the displacement meter to the customer. To take care of these unusual conditions, I have provided an over capacity in the vacuum pump operating in conjunction with the suction control and the controlled discharge valve, as before described, and the separating means on the suction side of the pump. It is therefore practically impossible for air to be delivered with the gasoline.

Various elements of the vacuum pump assembly have been arranged so as to completely enclose them in the bottom settling chamber lil. During the normal operation of the unit, this makes provision for all of the joints ci' the vacuum pump being completely iiooded and sealed with gasoline or other liquid being pumped, and thus reduces the possibilitiesior atmospheric air leakage on the suction side of the pump.

Another detail of importance is the provision made for the proper sealing of the drive shaft 29 from leakage of air inward to the suction chamber or possible leakage of gasoline from the suction chamber up into the bearing 28a or 28a', as shown and described in connection with Figures 2 and 10.

A mechanical seal is employed consisting of a rotating member 35 held and driven from the shaft by means of the flexible bushing 36, the two units being forced on the shaft so that the bearing face 31 of the member 35 bears iirmly against a corresponding polished stationary surface of wall 22 or 22. The whole assembly is retained in position for take-up of possible wear by means of the spring 533 and washer 3:9.

Above the stationary sealing surface 3l', l provide a chamber Btl which would be supplied with a lubricant maintained at a level of the open- 5 ing in filling neck it, through conventional means, see Fig. l0. 'Ehe positioning of the seal in this manner allows for more effective lubrica- -tion of the sealing surface il and at the same time provides a definite liquid seal above the l0 sealing surface Si' for the exclusion of inward leakage of atmospheric air to the suction which of course would be highly detrimental to the operation of the unit.

As conventionally applied, lubrication for seals of this nature is usually supplied around the ro tating seal 3? itself. By placing the lubrication on the opposite side more effective lubrication of the sealing surfaces 5l is obtained, because of the natural centrifugal force that tends to throw the oil outwardly between these surfaces.

As a further protection for the bearing a', I provide an additional shaft'seal iti. This seal would prevent the passage of the oil from the oil sealed chamber 3d up into the bearing. There 2 is a possibility of a slight positive head on the suction chamber of the pump when the unit is shut down. This pressure is limited to the height of the gasoline discharge nozzle, but because of the air chambers in the inlet and discharge separators, this pressure could not exceed one or two feet. If for any reason the mechanical seal assembly should leak between the surfaces "il or around the resilient member 3b, up into the oil sealing chamber 3G', the possibility of this gaso- 315 line reaching the bearing would be remote because of the eXtra seal itl and the overow level. in the opening in filling neck E25.

As additional protection to the bearing, there is employed in this structure a ball bearing Eiiufflo or 25a' provided with an integral seal 28 or 23', and a further relief passage H3G.

{aving thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: '-45 l. A pump assemblage comprising a housing equipped with a closed liquid reservoir adapted for communication with a liquid storage tank disposed at a lower level, a gas pump in communication with the liquid reservoir at one pointv 5.1) for creating sub-atmospheric pressures in the reservoir effective to transfer liquid from the tank to the reservoir, a liquid pump in communication with said reservoir at a different point below said rst point for discharging liquid from said reservoir, and part of said gas pump being confined within the reservoir below said first point whereby the liquid in the reservoir will form a seal for said part.

2. A pump assemblage comprising a housing equipped with a closed liquid reservoir adapted for communication with a liquid storage tank disposed at a lower level, a gas pump in communication with the liquid reservoir at one point for creating sub-atmospheric pressures in the reservoir effective to transfer liquid from the tank to the reservoir, a liquid pump in communication with said reservoir at another point below said rst point for discharging liquid from the reservoir, pumping means forming part of said pumps effective to separate the respective pumping chambers thereof, means providing a liquid seal between said chambers, means influenced by the liquid within the limits of the said points to place said reservoir in and out of communication with atmosphere, to maintain said liquid pump primed and to maintain proper seal pressure on said liquid sealing means, and each pump having a portion confined within the reservoir.

3. A pump assemblage comprising a housing equipped with a closed liquid reservoir adapted for communication with a liquid storage tank disposed at a lower level, a gaspump in communication with the liquid reservoir at one point for creating sub-atmospheric pressures in the reservoir effective to transfer liquid from the tank to the reservoir, a liquid pump in communication with said reservoir at another point below said first point for discharging liquid from the reservoir, pumping means forming part of said pumps effective to separate the respective pumping chambers thereof, means providing a liquid seal between said chambers, means influenced by the liquid within the limits of the said points to place said reservoir in and out of communication with atmosphere, to maintain said liquid pump primed and to maintain proper seal pressure on said liquid sealing means, said gas pump having a part confined within the reservoir.

4. A pump assemblage comprising a housing equipped with a closed liquid reservoir adapted for communication with a liquid storage tank disposed at a lower level, means in the reservoir to maintain the liquid level in the reservoir within predetermined limits, comprising a gas pump communicating with the reservoir above said limits for creating sub-atmospheric pressures in the reservoir effective to transfer liquid from the tank to the reservoir, a liquid pump communieating with said reservoir below said limits for discharging liquid from said reservoir, liquid sealing means between said pumps and below said limits, a valve operable to control the discharge of the reservoir at a predetermined level, and means influenced by the liquid at one limit in the reservoir to maintain said valve inoperative when the level is below the predetermined amount, thereby to keep said liquid pump primed, and to maintain adequate pressures on the liquid sealing means.

5. A pump assemblage comprising a housing equipped with a closed liquid reservoir adapted for communication with a liquid storage tank disposed at a lower level, means in the reservoir to maintain the liquid level in the reservoir within predetermined limits, comprising a gas pump communicating with the reservoir above said limits for creating sub-atmospheric pressures in the reservoir effective to transfer liquid from the tank to the reservoir, a liquid pump communieating with said reservoir below said limits for discharging liquid from said reservoir, liquid sealing means between said pumps and below said limits, a valve operable to control the discharge of the reservoir at a predetermined pressure, and means influenced by the liquid at one limit in the reservoir to maintain said valve inoperative when the level is below the predetermined limit, and means, influenced by the liquid at the other limit in the reservoir, to place said reservoir in communication with the atmosphere, said liquid controlled means being cooperative with each other to keep lsaid liquid pump primed, and to maintain adequate pressures on the liquid sealing means.

6. A pump assemblage comprising a housing equipped with a. closed liquid reservoir adapted for communication with a liquid storage tank disposed at a lower level, a gas pump in communication with the liquid reservoir at one point for creating sub-atmospheric pressures in the reservoir effective to transfer liquid from the tank to the reservoir, a liquid pump in communication with said reservoir at a different point below said rst point for discharging liquid from the reservoir, means influenced by the liquid within the limits of said points to place said reservoir in communication with the atmosphere, a valve controlling the discharge of liquid from said liquid pump at a predetermined level in said reservoir, said latter means including a normally open -connection between said valve and the reservoir at a point between said means and said different point, and means responding to the iniluence of the liquid level in the reservoir to control the opening and closing of said valve.

7. A pump assemblage comprising a housing equipped with a closed liquid reservoir adapted for communication with a liquid storage tank disposed at a lower level, a gas pump in communication with the liquid reservoir at one point for creating sub-atmospheric pressures inl the reservoir, a liquid pump in communication with said reservoir at a different point below said first point, both pumps being arranged below said points, said liquid pump having a discharge passage, means influenced by the liquid in the reservoir within the limits of said points to place the reservoir in communication with the atmosphere, a valve shell having a valve seat across the dis charge passage, said valve shell being formed with a cylinder provided with an opening in communication with said valve seat, said cylinder having a normally open connection with said reservoir, a piston valve mounted in the cylinder between said connection and the valve seat and normally bearing against said valve seat, and means responding to the influence of the liquid level in the reservoir for closing said connection.

8. A pump assemblage comprising a housing forming a closed liquid reservoir, a pump casing in said housing and at least partially in said reservoir, a rotor in said pump casing effective to divide said casing into a plurality of pump charnbers, said rotor forming in combination with one of said pump chambers, a centrifugal liquid pump, and forming in combination with the other of said chambers a liquid ring, gas pump, said gas pump being completely immersed in said reservoir, under operating conditions, said rotor being effective to withdraw liquid and gas, respectively from the reservoir at different levels.

9. A pump assemblage comprising a housing forming a closed liquid reservoir, a pump casing in said housing and at least partially in said reservoir, a rotor insaid pump casing effective to divide said casing into a plurality of pump chambers, said rotor forming in combination with one of said pump chambers, a centrifugal liquid pump, and forming in combination with the other of said chambers a liquid ring gas pump, said gas pump being completely immersed in said reservoir, under operating conditions, said rotor being effective to Withdraw iluids from the reservoir at different levels, and means controlled by the liquid in the reservoir to place the reservoir in communication with the atmosphere.

l0. In a pumping system effective to handle liquids and gases, a source of supply, a reservoir in communication therewith, means to prevent the liquid level in the reservoir from descending below a predetermined elevation, and means to separate gas from liquid, means in communica tion with said reservoir to initially place a vacuum on said source of supply thereby to pump liquid into said reservoir, and to pump separated gas from said separating means, means to pump separated liquid from said reservoir to an ultimate discharge, means arranged below said liquid levei to provide a liquid seal between the vacuum creating means and the liquid pumping means, means eiective at a predetermined level in the system to control discharge of the liquid from the system and to control vacuum conditions within the system, thereby to keep said liquid pumping means primed and to maintain proper pressures on the liquid sealing means.

l1. In a pump assemblage having a source of supply and an ultimate delivery means, pumping means effective to place a vacuum on the source of supply and draw fluid therefrom, means interposed between said source of supply and pumping means effective to separate gas from liquid in said fluid including a float tank having a connection for delivery of gas to said pumping means, and a reservoir for delivery of liquid to a liquid pumping means, said pumping means and liquid pumping means being arranged below the lowest liquid level in the reservoir, said tank having a float valve connection to atmosphere effective to balance vacuum conditions with liquid level conditions in the assemblage, valve means for said ultimate delivery means, and pilot valve means connected to said float tank, and to said delivery valve means, said pilot valve means being constructed and arranged to control said operation of said delivery valve means in accordance with vacuum and liquid level conditions in said assemblage.

HAROLD E. ADAMS. 

